Punjab Games from December 26

LAHORE: Nearly 1800 athletes and 550 officials will be taking part in the Punjab Games being held from December 26 across the province with major districts holding various events under a new concept being introduced by the organizers to diversify the games concept.

This was stated by Mahmood Naveed, Secretary Punjab Olympic Association at a news conference here on Monday at Olympic House.

Nadeem Sindhu, Senior Vice President and Khawaja Farooq Saeed, Javed Saleem and Vice Presidents of POA were also present on the occasion.

Naveed said it is for the first time in the history of sports that the Games will be held in different parts of the province to broaden the span of the activity and to get people involved in the sports extravaganza.

We will holding the events of athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, chess, karate, judo, volleyball, arm wrestling, taekwondo, wrestling, bodybuilding, weightlifting, rowing, jiujutsu and canoeing and we are in process of finalizing a few more disciplines to make the games thrilling and competitive, he said.

Kh Farooq Saeed who is the also secretary of Pakistan Olympic Association praised the idea of holding different events across the province terming it a new concept which will contribute in the overall development of the game.

Punjab Games are being organized under new vision and ideas and we will also be holding its opening and closing ceremonies at Alhamra hall instead of a ground or stadium to add colour by introducing cultural events for the entertainment of the public, he added.

He said the opening ceremony will be held on December 26 and all the nine zones of the Punjab will attend followed by the closing ceremony on December 31. (APP)